Jason Burgos
A new rumor suggests the Los Angeles Clippers are preparing to pass on a golden opportunity this summer that they may never get again.
There are a few franchises in the NBA that have ugly histories. Teams like the Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings are a couple of examples. However, the Clippers may be the most famous because they have been terrible in one of the biggest media markets in the world, and the same city as the legendary Los Angeles Lakers.
It takes a lot of bad work to be as consistently disappointing as the Clippers have been during their history. However, some of it is also bad luck. They did not expect Kawhi Leonard or Paul George to be injuries waiting to happen when they paired them up seven years ago. But it seemed like this season, LA management had learned from their failures and bad luck of the last few years.
Before February’s trade deadline, they moved James Harden for a young, talented player in Darius Garland. And they took a risk by sending Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers, but they were rewarded by landing the No. 5 pick in this month’s NBA Draft. They got younger with the moves and have the chance of potentially landing the new face of the franchise in a few weeks.
LA Clippers owner unwilling to trade Kawhi Leonard?
It would make sense to continue that youth movement and try to move Leonard this summer. Over the last few years, that was a near impossibility because of how much money was left on his contract and his constant health issues.
However, after earning All-Star honors and playing in 65 games this year, the two-time champions’ value has reportedly gone up. Furthermore, he could serve as a backup plan for a team that fails to land Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, according to several rumors. The Clippers have a great opportunity to get out of his contract and actually get something back.
Yet, it looks like they will pass on that opportunity. “As one rival executive from another team that has an interest in Leonard shared, there is skepticism that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is truly willing to trade Leonard,” The Athletic’s Hunter Patterson reports.
Leonard may have another injury-filled season in 2026-27, and the Clippers will pay him over $50 million to sit on the bench for much of the year. Ballmer not jumping at the chance to trade him and go in a new direction is a mind-boggling move that is a classic Clippers decision.
